April 2009

Safe Routes to School E-News

Issue #40: April 2009

Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a growing national network of more than 400 non-profit organizations, government agencies, and professional groups that are working to set goals, share best practices, secure funding, and provide detailed policy input to implementing agencies for advancing the Safe Routes to School national movement.

Please forward Safe Routes to School E-News to others who may be interested!

1. 2nd National SRTS Conference is August 19-21 in Portland, OregonRegister today at www.saferoutesconference.org - May 15 is early registration deadline

Sign up now for the 2nd Safe Routes to School National Conference August 19-21, 2009 in beautiful, bicycle-friendly Portland, Oregon! Register today to take advantage of the early registration rate of $300, which is available through May 15. There will also be a Kaiser Permanente pre-conference health training on August 18.

The National SRTS Conference will offer standard 90-minute workshops, plenary speakers, mobile tours, 180-minute interactive training opportunities that allow for more in-depth discussion, hands-on events, discussion panels, and fun evening events including a dance party. To effectively meet the diverse needs of participants, attendees will have the option to participate in sessions focused on specific age groups - K-5, middle school, or high school - and on specific geographic locations - urban, suburban, or rural. Whether you are an engineer, a local level practitioner, transportation planner, academic, advocate, parent, health agency employee, school nurse, non-profit partner, or with law enforcement, this conference will provide valuable information for propelling Safe Routes to School work onto the next level.

A big thanks to the conference sponsors: lead donor, Kaiser Permanente, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, City of Portland, Oregon Department of Transportation, Metro, Alta Planning + Design, and Cycle Oregon.

2. Academic Research Related to Safe Routes to SchoolCompiled April 2009 by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership

As the Safe Routes to School movement continues to expand, the body of empirical data is also growing. Research can help make the case for Safe Routes to School to legislators, funders, school officials, city officials, and parents. Click here to view the Partnership’s new research section on our website. A very special thanks to the Partnership’s Research Fellow, Kristin Gavin, for her hard work on this incredibly robust resource!

This research compilation includes a representative review of academic research exploring many of the issues addressed by Safe Routes to School programs. Research topics highlighted investigate relationships between:

Physical activity, academic achievement, and obesity;

The impact of the built environment on active travel;

The effects of active transport on air quality and the environment; and

A practitioner information section provides Safe Routes to School practitioners with valuable insights into Safe Routes to School programs, including implications for policy, issues to consider when implementing new programs, and evaluation results of current programs.

In addition to the academic research cited in this section, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership has identified several areas for which additional research is needed. Continuing to expand the research base for Safe Routes to School will allow for more robust and scholarly analysis of promising trends and best practices.

3. Partnership Issues Best Practices for State SRTS ProgramsFocus is on addressing the needs of low-income communities

Low-income communities often face challenges in applying for and implementing SRTS projects, due to shortages in staff, funding challenges, and engineering expertise. Yet, these schools and communities often have very high levels of childhood obesity, and can be the very institutions were significant numbers of children are encountering unsafe traffic conditions. A number of state SRTS programs have implemented varied approaches to address the special needs and challenges of low-income communities, either in the application process or the implementation phase. Based on input from State SRTS Coordinators, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership has compiled a best practices guide that can help other state Departments of Transportation ensure participation in SRTS from diverse communities throughout the state.

4. Call for Steering Committee NominationsThe deadline to apply is May 5, 2009

The Partnership is now accepting nominations for several Steering Committee positions. Each organization that holds a seat on the Steering Committee must appoint an individual representative and an alternate to serve on behalf of his or her organization. Open seats and terms are:

National group representing schools – one seat (2009-2012)

National group representing bicyclists and/or pedestrians – one seat (2009-2012)

National group representing health organizations– one seat (2009-2012)

State or local pedestrian group – one seat (2009-2012)

Local Government – one seat (2009-2012)

State or local at large – one seat (2009-2012)

The Steering Committee, a diverse group of up to 21 members, functions as the Partnership’s Board of Directors and holds decision-making responsibility for the Partnership. The estimated time commitment for Steering Committee members is eight hours a month. The deadline to apply is May 5, 2009. View and download the call for application and instructions.

5. Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s Federal UpdateMovement on a number of priorities

The past month has been a busy one for Congress. Two new bills were introduced that the Partnership supports. We are working with DC-based coalitions and partners to build support for these bills:

Complete Streets: Rep. Matsui (D-CA) and Sen. Harkin (D-IA) have introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2009, which would require states and MPOs to adopt “complete streets” policies. These policies would ensure that future road improvements accommodate the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and people of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets is part of the Partnership’s reauthorization platform for SRTS, and we encourage supporters to contact their Members of Congress to ask them to co-sponsor the complete streets bills.

CLEAN-TEA: Sponsored by Senators Carper (D-DE) and Specter (R-PA) and Reps. Blumenauer (D-OR), Tauscher (D-CA), and LaTourette (R-OH), the “Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act” would target 10 percent of any climate bill cap and trade revenues to lower greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. States and communities could use this funding to create environmentally-friendly transportation options, including bike/ped infrastructure. The Partnership has submitted a letter of support for CLEAN-TEA.

In addition to the new bills that have been introduced, other priorities continue to move forward rapidly:

Congressman Oberstar (D-MN), who chairs the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has indicated he will be moving forward quickly with the next transportation bill, with a target of having draft legislation ready in May.

America Bikes, the coalition of eight national bike organizations, has released its transportation platform—which includes recommendations to reauthorize and expand funding for Safe Routes to School.

Guidance and additional information has been released for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus spending for the Transportation Enhancements program, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, and the school modernization funding in the state fiscal stabilization funds. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has updated our stimulus Frequently Asked Questions document with this new information.

Additionally, to highlight recovery act funds that can be used to increase opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy foods, Leadership for Healthy Communities created a policy brief entitled Supporting Healthy Communities Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. All of the recommendations in the policy brief are supported by research and accompanied by examples of how similar funds have been used to achieve healthy eating and active living objectives.

The 10 State Networks periodically focus on new opportunities that arise in their state. This year, the stimulus bill – the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – is such an opportunity, and as it turns out, a challenge as well. The funding through ARRA is dedicated to infrastructure, which could mean money for sidewalks, bike paths, pedestrian crossings, and other projects that could help children safely bicycle or walk to schools in the U.S. There are four such eligible categories in ARRA, including highway funding and Transportation Enhancements. State Networks have been working to get some of these funds dedicated to bicycle, pedestrian, and Safe Routes to School projects.

State Networks started by sending letters to elected officials, including governors, state legislators, and transportation agency leaders, asking them to spend money on bicycle, pedestrian, and SRTS projects, and to utilize complete streets concepts – designing and rebuilding roadways for all mode users – when spending the highway funds. The Networks specifically asked that the Transportation Enhancements funding be spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects, not on highway landscaping and beautification.

The State Networks also conducted outreach to local communities, organizations, Safe Routes to School leaders, and others to let them know that this funding is available, and to request projects from their local elected officials and agencies.

One big success is that Washington DC has dedicated $4 million in ARRA funding to Safe Routes to School! But in several states, so far virtually no money has been allocated to bicycle, pedestrian, or Safe Routes to School projects. Networks continue to work to influence the spending of money that is still ‘in the bank’.

Transportation for America, the nation’s most diverse coalition working to reform the upcoming federal transportation bill, is collaborating with partners to organize town halls and house meetings across the country. The purpose of these meetings is to document discussions about the kinds of transportation projects communities want, and why those projects should be funded by the transportation bill. Leaders in health and safety will play a vital role in these discussions, joining a national movement to tell our members of Congress that we want transportation projects that improve the health and safety of residents. Make your voice heard by organizing a town hall or smaller gathering in your area. Review the customizable toolkit at http://t4america.org/townhalls, and e-mail Rochelle at rochelle.carpenter@t4america.org if you would like to learn more!

8. National Wildlife Federation Policy Guide on Kids and NatureIncludes resources on Safe Routes to School

The National Wildlife Federation, a new partner of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, has just issued a handbook that can help state and local advocates reconnect children with nature and physical activity. The resource, Children and the Outdoors State Policy Solutions Guide, includes a series of recommendations for state policies that can make a difference in this area—including transportation solutions like Safe Routes to Schools—plus examples of resolutions, executive orders, and legislation that advocates and policymakers can pursue.

A Canadian study recently documented that children living near parks were more likely to walk to school or engage in leisure walking—clearly demonstrating the link between the outdoors and physical activity levels.

9. Mapping Tools Can Help Local SRTS ProgramsMany resources are readily available online for free

Safe Routes to School program leaders often need maps to show designated walking or bicycling “school bus” routes, engineering treatments, dangerous crossings, and other points of interest, in order to assist parents, school officials and others who are involved in the program. In fact, maps can create new walkers and bicyclists by showing parents and students that there are good routes to get to and from their school without a car.

You may already have access to maps, GIS software, or volunteers who can create maps. Maps can also be created very simply by using one of the various free web-based tools, such as Yahoo, Google, or MapQuest. You can create a map with multiple lines on it, representing your walking school bus routes, for instance, from these website tools. A free comprehensive mapping tool, launched by Google in June 2008, is also something to consider:

Google MapMaker:Google MapMaker allows you to contribute, share, and edit map information including schools, roads, bicycle paths, and pedestrian walkways. Once you understand the basics, you can locate, draw, label, describe, and moderate local map features, including:

Borders and regions (states, districts, cities, neighborhoods, etc.)

Roads, and other transportation elements

Points of interest, such as schools

And many more map features like railways, waterways, events, and reviews

10. Safe Routes to School News throughout the CountryLocal and state SRTS program news links

Safe Routes to School news around the country keeps growing! Updated regularly, see our new Safe Routes to School in the News media center for the latest in local, state, and national SRTS news.

Help Grow the National Partnership!

Joining the National Partnership is free. Please encourage other organizations, schools, businesses, and government agencies to join the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a network of more than 500 organizations and agencies.

Funding for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership has been generously provided by the Bikes Belong Coalition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kaiser Permanente, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, SRAM Cycling Fund, individuals and partner affiliates.